Guatemala is the 5th exporter of coffee in the world, and 5th biggest producers of coffee, after Brasil, Mexico, Vietnam and Colombia. Here is an overview of coffee and coffee tours in Guatemala.
The history of Guatemalan coffee
The history of coffee in Guatemala starts in the mid-18th Century. Coffee beans and other plants were imported from the West Indies, during the Spanish conquests, by Jesuit priests to Antigua. The colonial city was the first one where coffee plants were used as convent decoration. They were brought by Don Juan Rubio y Gemir in the year 1800. Other versions of the story give credits to anonymous peoples that, during a visit to the convent of the Society of Jesus in Antigua, may have picked some berries that then got planted in other regions of the country.
What the priests would have never imagined is that, centuries later, this bright red fruit would become the most exported product of Guatemala.
The acclimatization of coffee trees was astonishing; at that time in Guatemala, coffee was more used as a medicine than a beverage until the mid-19th Century.
In 1880, coffee was already the most important crop, generating 80% of the overall exportations.
Liberal governments (1898-1931) gave a strong push to Guatemalan coffee production. When the Church goods and many other communal lands were seized, a new law was created to force indigenous communities to work in coffee plantations. About the same time, in 1915, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition rewarded Guatemala with the “best coffee in the world” prize.
What explains the exponential growth of coffee production is its natural insulation, tempered climate and fertile soil.
The importance of coffee on a national scale
The coffee industry is a major part of the national economy.
According to the Coffee National Organization (Anacafé), coffee exportations represent 8.5% of the country’s exports, representing the second most commercialized product of the country, after textile.
The coffee industry has had a positive impact on the global economy of the country, creating jobs, increasing incomes and production growth.
In terms of employment, the production, processing and commercialization represents around 75,000 jobs, spread nationwide in 20 departments around the country.
As for the exports revenues, the coffee industry benefits for tourism, thanks to the promotion made by coffee cooperatives and NGO that attracts more foreigners every year, willing to discover the country where the coffee they drink every morning has been produced.
Steps of the coffee process
Almost every bean produced in Guatemala is Arabica.
The microclimate that exists in the region where the coffee grows determines the flavor, aroma, acidity, body and taste of the Guatemalan beans.
Planting is the first step in the coffee production process. It’s the beginning of a natural cycle that will transform seeds into plants.
Then start the harvest period, when the coffee cherries are ripped, between December and March/April. The Guatemalan beans are harvested by hand to select the right fruit, which must be neither green nor over-ripe.
During the processing step, the pulp is removed from the coffee cherry and dried to transform the harvested bean into a bean ready for the next steps.
Now comes the toasting stage, where the coffee gets its incomparable aroma. The bean will be facing high temperatures, which will make the bean grow, lose weight, decrease the caffeine, and finally will get its distinctive color.
At last, come the grinding step. In Guatemala, a “metate” is used, a grinding stone to crush the beans into powder.
Here comes the tasting time !
Coffee in the region of Antigua, a guided tour with De La Gente
The valley of Antigua is considered the birthplace of Guatemalan coffee, overlooked by Fuego, Agua and Acatenango volcanoes. The latters offer a volcanic soil characterized by their mineral content. The coffee trees are grown at an altitude of 1,500 meters, with a lot of sun and dense area in the shade; these meteorological conditions allow them to be protected from cold night frosts, characteristics of altitude such as this one.
There are three main varieties of coffee beans that are produced in Antigua: Bourbon, Caturra and Catuai.
We particularly recommend the coffee tour organized by Finca De La Gente. The excursion will bring you to a small community located 15 minutes away from Antigua, on the sides of Agua volcano, where local farmers are working together in the cooperative to grow, harvest and process their own coffee intended to be exported.
Enjoy a private tour with one of the farmers of the cooperative in his own field, then go to his house to see the different steps of processing the beans. Finally, have lunch with his family before heading back to Antigua. It’s a completely unique experience, different from the commercial fincas, where you will share a moment with a farmer and his family.
